FROM THE ARCHIVES: 'An Epidemic of Joy-Riding', said the headline on this report at a time when drivers didn't bother to lock their cars and it wasn't even a crime to "borrow" them. - JOE JOYCE
Every day in Dublin two or three motor cars are appropriated without the owners' permission by "joy-riders", according to a recent statement in the District Court by a Superintendent of the Civic Guard.
The Dublin District Justices have commented upon their lack of power to inflict salutary punishment in these cases.
They have pointed out that the law is very inadequate in the matter, giving them no jurisdiction whatever over the actual offence of taking the car.
In the present state of the law the only way in which the authorities can bring an offender to book is to charge him with the larceny of the petrol and oil, and the greatest penalty that can be imposed is a small fine.
In England the position is the same, but it is proposed to insert a clause in the Roads Act making it an offence to take cars for "joy-rides".
This is a step that should be taken in the Free State also when the long overdue Traffic Bill comes before the Dáil.
In 90 per cent of the cases the Free State "joy-riders" are not brought to book, but this is not the fault of the Civic Guard, who have a regular system that comes into operation immediately notification is given of the theft of a car. This system includes the placing of special Guards on the "key" roads leaving the city. Notification, however, is rarely received until three or four hours after the theft, and by that time the cars have been taken outside the city boundaries.
The stolen cars, however, are generally recovered within twenty-four hours. In most cases they are found abandoned within a few miles of the city, having been driven until the petrol supply is exhausted. There is no limit to the temerity of the "joy-riders"; for they have taken cars which have been left outside private houses, as well as cars from the regular parking places, at all hours of the day and night.
It is very rarely that the cars are taken far into the country, but just before the motor races in Ulster last August a stolen car was found abandoned at the border. In this case the thief apparently realised too late that he would be unable to get the car over the border without the proper credentials.
For the most part the motor cars are recovered undamaged, though now and again some property is stolen out of them and the engine damaged through being run without sufficient oil. Sometimes, however, the stolen car is involved in a smash, after which the thieves make a quick "get-away".
A large proportion of the "joy-riders" are young people in good positions; very few belong to the poorer classes.
The Civic Guards are doing all in their limited power to check the abuse, but motorists must realize that in this regard they are much to blame for carelessness in not taking elementary precautions.
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